Tantor Media

What Tantor Media does

Tantor Media is a US-based independent audiobook publisher founded in 2000, operating as an audio brand under RBmedia, the world's largest audiobook publisher with over 100,000 titles across its portfolio. The company specializes in producing audiobooks for both traditionally published authors and independent authors, with a particular reputation for discovering emerging voices in science fiction, fantasy, and romance genres. Its catalog includes winners of the Man Booker Prize, Pulitzer Prize, and National Book Award, alongside New York Times bestsellers and titles with starred reviews from major publications. In April 2026, Tantor published the audiobook of 'Hurricane Lessons' by Katrina Anne Willis (Sibylline Press) as part of its ongoing indie-author production pipeline.

Tantor's core technology is described as an audiobook publishing and production platform, with no proprietary AI/ML features or in-house model development documented. Revenue is generated through audiobook licensing and royalty arrangements with authors and rights holders, with all distribution and monetization intermediated by RBmedia's infrastructure rather than Tantor-direct sales. The company's go-to-market motion is channel-partner driven: it has no proprietary consumer app or D2C storefront, and titles reach end listeners exclusively through third-party platforms.

Distribution is the defining operational asset. As an RBmedia audio brand, Tantor's titles are available on all major digital retailers (Audible, Spotify, Apple Books, Google Play, Kobo, Storytel, B&N Audiobooks, Everand, Audiobooks.com) and on all major library and school platforms (OverDrive, Hoopla, Bibliotheca, Blackstone, Mackin, Skillsoft, Follett, Odilo, EBSCO). This reach, which spans millions of global listeners, is sourced from RBmedia's portfolio-level distribution network rather than Tantor's own commercial build-out. The company is headquartered in Landover, Maryland (with original founding location listed as Old Saybrook), has 51-100 employees, and is led by founders Kevin Colebank and Laura Colebank alongside broader RBmedia management.

Name

Tantor Media

Legal name

Tantor Media

Website

https://tantor.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Tantor Media is an independent audiobook publisher operating as an audio brand under RBmedia, producing high-quality audiobooks for traditionally published and independent authors in genres including science fiction, fantasy, and romance. It distributes through all major digital retailers and library platforms globally, reaching millions of listeners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Audiobook Publishing

NAICS

Book Publishers (51313), Book Publishers (513130)

SIC

Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731)

akta.pro primary industry

Audiobook Publishers (Trade & Consumer) (MPAJAIAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Library & Education Audiobook Distribution (Public Libraries, Schools, Academic) (MPAJAIAE)

Keywords

• Audiobook publishing
• Digital audiobooks
• Audiobook distribution
• Library audiobooks
• Narrator recording services

Headquarters

HQ city

Old Saybrook

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Audiobook Publishing and Licensing: Tantor Media publishes audiobooks for traditionally published and independent authors, generating revenue through audiobook licensing and sales across digital retail platforms and library systems worldwide.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Tantor Media publishes audiobooks for both traditionally published and independent authors, producing approximately 5,000 unabridged titles distributed globally through major digital retailers and library platforms. As an audio brand of RBmedia, the company specializes in discovering emerging authors and producing must-have titles across genres including science fiction, fantasy, romance, and literary fiction.

Product overview

Tantor Media operates as a sub-brand within the RBmedia portfolio of audiobook publishing companies. RBmedia serves as the parent company and platform, with Tantor Media serving as a dedicated audio brand specializing in audiobook publishing for both emerging and established authors. The structure is a platform-plus-sub-brand architecture, where RBmedia provides the distribution network, infrastructure, and broad catalog management, while Tantor Media focuses specifically on discovering up-and-coming authors and must-have titles in genres including science fiction, fantasy, and romance. Authors published through Tantor benefit from RBmedia's distribution reach across all major digital retailers and library platforms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Tantor Audiobook Publishing Service End-to-end audiobook publishing and production service for traditionally published and independent authors, providing professional recording, production, and global distribution through digital retailers and library platforms.
• Hurricane Lessons Audiobook Individual audiobook title from Tantor Media's catalog, available across major digital retailers and library platforms.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration18 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• AudiblecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAudible is a key digital distribution partner for Tantor Media's audiobook catalog. As Amazon's audiobook platform, Audible provides access to millions of audiobook listeners globally. Tantor's titles are available on Audible as part of RBmedia's broad distribution network.
• SpotifycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSpotify serves as a major audiobook distribution platform for Tantor Media. The partnership expands reach to Spotify's global user base of audiobook listeners.
• Apple BookscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorApple Books is a key distribution partner providing access to Tantor Media's audiobook catalog through the Apple ecosystem.
• Google PlaycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGoogle Play serves as a digital distribution outlet for Tantor Media's audiobook titles, reaching Android users globally.
• OverDrivecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOverDrive is a primary library distribution platform for Tantor Media, enabling public libraries to offer digital audiobook lending to patrons.
• HooplacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHoopla provides library digital lending services for Tantor Media's audiobook catalog, enabling libraries to offer instant access to audiobook titles.
• StorytelcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorStorytel is a global audiobook and e-book subscription platform that distributes Tantor Media's catalog across multiple countries.
• Audiobooks.comcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAudiobooks.com serves as a dedicated audiobook distribution partner for Tantor Media, providing access to its catalog of audiobook titles.
• RBmediaflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerRBmedia is the parent company and owner of Tantor Media as an audio brand. RBmedia is the largest audiobook publisher in the world with over 100,000 titles. Tantor operates as part of RBmedia's portfolio of audio brands, benefiting from shared distribution networks, production infrastructure, and marketing capabilities.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Recorded Books: Sister RBmedia audio brand publishing unabridged audiobooks through the same distribution network, serving the same libraries and retailers as Tantor. Direct peer by parent, channel, and product.
• Dreamscape Media: Another RBmedia audio imprint producing audiobooks with comparable retail and library distribution. Closely comparable catalog, format, and channel strategy.
• Highbridge Audio: RBmedia-owned audiobook publisher with a similar trade and library audio offering. Directly comparable product and distribution footprint to Tantor.
• GraphicAudio: RBmedia sibling brand focused on full-cast dramatized audiobooks. Sister imprint with shared distribution, comparable audiobook production business.
• Blackstone Audio: Independent audiobook publisher with comparable trade and library distribution including platforms like OverDrive and Hoopla. Direct competitor for author and narrator talent.
• Brilliance Audio: Major independent audiobook publisher with broad retail and library distribution. Comparable catalog scope, format, and customer base in the trade and library channels.

Broad incumbents

• Audible (Amazon): Dominant audiobook retailer and original-content producer; both a critical distribution partner and the largest competitive threat in the audiobook market.
• Penguin Random House Audio: Major publisher-owned audiobook imprint with big-five parent backing and category-leading title flow. Overlaps with Tantor in trade and library channels at scale.
• HarperAudio: Big-five audiobook imprint publishing bestsellers and award-winners with broad retail and library reach. Comparable catalog depth and award-driven positioning.
• Storytel: Global audiobook and e-book subscription platform that is both a Tantor distribution partner and a competing publisher of original audio content in international markets.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/tantoraudio
• Facebookfacebook.com/tantoraudio
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tantor-media

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Tantor Media